Austin Ekeler’s expected torn Achilles is a devastating blow for the player and the Washington Commanders. Ekeler is a highly respected NFL veteran who may be facing an early retirement if things don’t work out.
The injury is set to leave the Commanders short at the running back position, after they traded away Brian Robinson Jr. in a deal they might now like to have back. In fantasy football, the veteran was still a viable start in PPR leagues, even if no longer the explosive superstar he once was.
For those needing to pivot from the Commanders’ star, here are five fantasy options to pick up or trade for in leagues.
Jeremy McNichols, RB, Washington Commanders
The likely internal beneficiary of Ekeler’s injury is veteran backup Jeremy McNichols, who was previously the team’s third-choice back. While unlikely to take over all of Ekeler’s workload, he should see increased opportunities with the ball, provided the Commanders don’t trade for anyone.
McNichols earned 12 targets in 2024, but has yet to get a look from Jayden Daniels this term and isn’t an obvious choice to fill Ekeler’s pass-catching role. He demonstrated some receiving ability in his two years with the Tennessee Titans (2020, 2021), but Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Deebo Samuel will likely split Ekeler’s receiving work.
Adding McNichols to your roster won’t feel great, but he’ll be almost free on waivers in most leagues, and you might feel silly if he blows up on someone else’s team.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings
If you’re (understandably) unconvinced of McNichols, replacing Ekeler with a similarly solid veteran running back could be a better option. The Minnesota Vikings’ offense was ugly in Week 1, but the team rallied late to overcome a horrible start.
Aaron Jones Sr. had his doubters ahead of the season, due to his age and the arrival of Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers. Those doubts were fuelled by Jones’s Week 1 usage, with the veteran getting little more than half the rushing opportunities that Mason did (8-15).
JJ McCarthy (2) to Aaron Jones Sr. (1)
Minnesota Vikings
27 yards pic.twitter.com/4zpn1jIXsz— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) September 9, 2025
However, Jones out-targeted his younger teammate and finished ahead of him in fantasy thanks to a receiving touchdown, but owners will still be nervous. Jones has been a consistently solid fantasy asset and remains a big part of the Vikings’ offense. Buying low on him should comfortably replace the RB3/Flex asset managers lost in Ekeler.
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Listing both Mason and Jones may seem contradictory, but head coach Kevin O’Connell should have his Minnesota offense humming before long, and both can thrive.
Even when excelling with the 49ers last season, Mason topped two targets only once, and never topped three. He shouldn’t threaten Jones’s receiving usage, but early signs suggest he’ll be the team’s preferred early-down rusher.
The Vikings didn’t run a play from inside the Chicago Bears’ 10-yard line in Week 1, but Jones was uninvolved inside the red zone. That could change moving forward, as the veteran gives the team more options there, but Mason will clearly be heavily involved.
Both Vikings running backs should be flex-worthy in PPR, with both holding RB2 value if the other gets injured. Based on recent history, both are equally likely to get hurt, so the decision may come down to price and personal preference.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Realistically, the most expensive trade target on this list, Kenneth Walker III, is another potential buy-low opportunity after a dismal Week 1 showing. Walker carried the ball 10 times for just 20 yards, adding four yards on three receptions.
Zach Charbonnet looked like the lead back on the team, averaging almost double Walker’s yards per attempt (3.9-2.0) and scoring the team’s only touchdown. Walker did out-target his teammate 3-0, but alarm bells will be ringing for managers who drafted him in the fourth round.
THE K9 TRAIN 🚂
23-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN FOR KENNETH WALKER.
SEAHAWKS LEAD 16-13 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CoHwMZlfsZ
— Seattle ON Tap (@SeattleONTap) September 8, 2024
Walker is in the final year of his rookie deal, with no whispers of an extension to be heard, making him a potential real-life trade target for Washington and others. Regardless of his whereabouts, though, the explosive back should be a consideration for all managers needing a running back this week.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Many considered Isiah Pacheco a sleeper in fantasy drafts this season, and they may still be correct. The Kansas City Chiefs runner did little to prove them right in Week 1, though, carrying the ball just five times for 25 yards.
The Chiefs were comfortably beaten by the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, and Andy Reid’s offense played almost exclusively from behind (every offensive drive after their first). The Chiefs should be expected to create more positive game scripts in the future, with more opportunities to run the ball.
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The fear with Pacheco before the season was a potential lack of efficiency following his 2024 fibula fracture. Despite the limited usage, Pacheco was the clear lead back in terms of snap share (51% – Kareem Hunt 38%), and his five yards per carry suggest he may be entirely up to speed.
Pacheco’s 4.8 fantasy points in Week 1 (RB42) will have left many managers open to offers, and the Chiefs star should be another buy-low target for those in need.
